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Krux DIY vs Specter Shield

What DIY does better (5) and where Shield wins (9) — every spec side by side.

Krux DIY
Krux · 2022DIY
7.1Score
5 advantages≈ €50
vs
Specter Shield
Specter · 2020Shield
9.2Score
9 advantages≈ €450
Higher score
4.0Security7.2
5.9Open source5.9
9.2Bitcoin features5.2
7.8Ease of use9.2
7.8Connectivity4.6

Why is DIY better than Shield?

  1. Seed XORYes · Shield: No
  2. USB-CYes · Shield: No
  3. Compatible third-party wallets12 vs 11+9%
  4. Weight150 g vs 248 g+65%
  5. Thickness16.5 mm vs 26 mm+58%

Why is Shield better than DIY?

  1. Secure Element chipNo · DIY: Yes
  2. Battery capacity520 mAh vs 1,400 mAh2.7×
  3. Secure bootNo · DIY: Yes
  4. Wipe after failed attemptsNo · DIY: Yes
  5. NFC backup cardNo · DIY: Yes
  6. USBNo · DIY: Yes
  7. QWERTY keyboardNo · DIY: Yes
  8. Desktop appNo · DIY: Yes
  9. Screen size3.5″ vs 4″+14%
Specifications

Side by side

Krux DIYKrux DIY≈ €507.1
Specter ShieldSpecter Shield≈ €4509.2
Security
Secure Element chipNoYes
Air-gapped signingYesYes
100% air-gappedYesYes
Supply-chain & tamper protectionYesYes
Secure bootNoYes
Anti-klepto (anti-exfil) signingNoNo
Firmware & open source
Open-source firmwareYesYes
Source code availableYesYes
Reproducible buildsYesYes
Firmware licenceMITMIT
Upgradable firmwareYesYes
Firmware update viaUSB, microSDmicroSD
Bitcoin-only firmware / editionYesYes
Device lock
PIN lockYesYes
PIN entered on the deviceYesYes
Fingerprint unlockNoNo
Duress PIN / decoy walletNoNo
Brick / wipe PINNoNo
Wipe after failed attemptsNoYes
Time-delayed unlockNoNo
Anti-phishing wordsYesYes
Keys & backup
BIP39 passphraseYesYes
Shamir backup (SLIP-39)NoNo
Seed XORYesNo
BIP85 child seedsYesYes
24-word seedYesYes
SeedQR backupYesYes
microSD backupYesYes
NFC backup cardNoYes
User-added entropy (dice)YesYes
Stateless use (no stored keys)YesYes
Multiple seeds on one deviceNoNo
Bitcoin features
MultisigYesYes
TaprootYesYes
MiniscriptYesYes
Message signingYesYes
Coin controlYesYes
Own node connectionYesYes
Tor supportYesYes
Replace-by-feeYesYes
Silent PaymentsNoNo
Spending limitsNoNo
TestnetYesYes
Supported assets
Altcoins & tokensNoNo
Bitcoin onlyYesYes
Connectivity
Signing connectivityQR code, microSDUSB, QR code, microSD
USBNoYes
USB-CYesNo
BluetoothNoNo
NFCNoNo
QR code cameraYesYes
Animated QR (UR)YesYes
microSD signingYesYes
Screen & input
ScreenYesYes
Screen size3.5″4″
Screen typeTFTLCD
Screen resolution320 × 480800 × 480
TouchscreenYesYes
Colour screenYesYes
Gorilla GlassNoNo
ControlsTouch ScreenTouch Screen
QWERTY keyboardNoYes
Battery & power
Built-in batteryYesYes
Battery capacity520 mAh1,400 mAh
Removable batteryNoYes
Wireless chargingNoNo
Design
Weight150 g248 g
Length104.3 mm134 mm
Width63.3 mm67 mm
Thickness16.5 mm26 mm
MaterialsPlasticPlastic
Water / dust resistanceNoNo
Several colours availableNoYes
DIY build possibleYesYes
Apps
Official apps—Windows, macOS, Linux
Desktop appNoYes
Mobile appNoNo
Works with wallet appsBitcoin Safe, Zeus, Nunchuk, Cove, Electrum, Sparrow, Specter Desktop, Blockstream Green, BlueWallet, Bitcoin Keeper, Bull, LianaBitcoin Safe, Wasabi, Nunchuk, Cove, Electrum, Sparrow, Specter Desktop, BlueWallet, Bitcoin Keeper, Bull, Liana
Compatible third-party wallets1211
Other features
FIDO2 / U2F security keyNoNo
Password managerNoNo
To compare: 0up to 4 models
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